870 replacement barrels

[FootSoldier]

I just bought a PD turn-in 870 Police Magnum with a 20" bbl and rifle sights. Bbl length and sights are just not to my liking. I want a shorter bbl and a bead sight. The bbl on my older shotgun is marked CYL and the replacement bbl for this new gun I am looking at is marked fixed CYL, is that the same thing? I prefer not to have any choke and I'd like to find a 18 or 18.5" BS parkerized bbl.

Thanks for the help!

[FootSoldier]

A little searching showed me the difference between the CYL and Improved CYL, and I am guessing fixed CYL is the same as CYL.

So...this is a HD project gun that will run 00 buck and I want to go to 18.5" for the shorter length, but I don't know the effective difference between using CYL or a IC bbl? At 15 and 25 yds with my 00 ammo, my older gun holds right at 1"/1yd spread patterns. How much difference should I expect if I went with improved CYL on this gun?

Thanks again!

[Synchronizor]

It really depends on the specific load you're using, but I wouldn't expect too much of a difference.

[BlueSmoke]

Small difference in chokes. Negligible differences in patterning at HD ranges.

[FootSoldier]

Thanks all. I bought an 18.5" IC BS parked bbl from midway for $110.

[DaveC]

That's a good price! I will say, that patterns can vary from ammunition and not just choke... In my Mossberg 18-12" cylinder bore replacement barrel installed on my Rem. 870 Synthetic Express, I get phenomenal results with Federal 00 buck, Federal low-recoil 00 buck, and Federal PD No.4 buck. Very, very good results with Remington #1 buck and Win-Lite 00 buck too. Totally unpredictable patterning--sometimes good, sometimes too wide--with Sellier & Bellot, Rio and perhaps a few other brands.

Good luck patterning your shotgun!

What I do, is get some of the Texas Concealed Handgun License qualification targets, i.e. "giant human sized bowling pins" and butcher paper, and try each cartridge brand and known distances. When I'm done, one shell per target, I mark the distance and ammo type in the corner with a marker, and then at the end of the day, roll them up, rubber band 'em, and take 'em home for some diagnosis.